Sri Bharatamata

Ashtottaram 34

 

34) OṀ KĀRUṆYA BHŨMYAINAMAH:

 OṀ (AUM) - KAA - RUṆ - YA- BHOO- MYAI- NA--MA- HA

 

                 (Kāruṇyam: means-compassion, empathy, understanding, kindness)

 

 

 

Words like daya, dākshiṇyam, karuṇa are in our culture eternally. Showing daya or compassion to all the living creatures and not harming them has been a basic moral discipline enjoined on all, in Hinduism. These words have been defined in various ways: 1) Desire that arises in one's heart to mitigate the sufferings of others by putting forth the necessary effort.  2) The desire to do well to others even as one wish those others should do towards oneself. The Devībhāgavatam describes kāruṇyam (daya) as one of the eight female companions accompanying the Devi (Divine mother). The word is also used as an appellation for goddess Laksmi, the consort of Vishṇu, since she is the very personification towards all living beings who are her children.

 

Our society shows immeasurable respect irrespective of their socio-economic status on those who show kāruṇyam on all living beings including animals. Our culture venerates people with the divine qualities like daya, kāruṇyam in their speech and actions. This is deep rooted in our society. The way we show respect to sādhus, swamīs and sannyāsīs reveals this fact. These swamīs are invited by Indians abroad and treat them like demi-gods.

 

In our purāṇās and epics we see these qualities are portrayed and highlighted in the characters like Sri Ramachandra Murty. There is a legend that Lord Sri Rama gently strokes on the back of a squirrel with love and gratitude with utmost daya when it shows its devotion to Lord Rama by dipping its back in sand and shaking it in the ocean when monkeys were helping Sri Rama to build a bridge to cross the ocean. Even today, we see these three lines on the back of a squirrel. In these dark and selfish times also we see some Indians in India and abroad live their lives with these qualities of karuṇa and daya in their talk and actions towards every living being.  Those might be in a small number, but still there are a few left. At the same token we see people in other religions killing people in a terroristic style in the name of religion; and missionaries proselytizing other religious people in the name of love. However, Hindus mind their own religion and try their best to be kind and show kāruṇyam towards fellow beings.

 

In Bhagavadgīta, Lord Sri Krishna taught that daya (kāruṇyam) as one of the divine qualities one should practice. Possessing these divine qualities is considered as a wealth by some Hindus and they not only enjoy peace but also spread it to others as opposed to the demon qualities like killing others with terrorist attacks.

 

Our motherland and our ancient sages, seers taught and practiced daya and kāruṇyam toward other living beings and hence our land is 'Kāruṇya Bhūmi'.